What do i do?

[Aionlasting]

Hey all,

I figure ill give you some background information on myself before i go a head and tell you my dilemma. I was originally a pre-med student attending a community college attempting to get into medical school. After burning myself out in a year and a half of just pre-req courses, i decided to change my major to nursing. I have a strong desire to be in the medical field and help people out but i realized i didn't want to be 29-31 years of age when i finally graduated and was out on my own. I also doubt i could have made it through 4-6 years of intense medical school with my head buried in the books. I'm just not that type of person. Which brings me to my current situation and problem.

During my first two years at community college i was your typical student who was still in the whole highschool mentality of 'I don't care about school.' This caused my GPA to take a slight dive. Since i didn't pay attention in class and didn't study but was taking GE courses because at this time i was also undecided in my major.

Only recently did i decide i wanted to be in the med field but i had already wedged myself between a rock and a hard place by screwing around my first two years at community college.

My GPA now as it stands is around a 2.9. My science Gpa's are probably more in line with a 3.2-3.5. I'm a little discouraged at the moment because i spoke with a cal state representative of a school for which i was hoping to transfer to in about a year or so and he informed me basically that a 2.9 GPA overall won't cut it, and that last year his school only accepted those with a 3.7 or higher GPA EVEN THOUGH the schools requirement is at the LEAST a 2.5 GPA.

So my question is, is their hope for me? What should i do, what can i do? I was told i could go to a community college, another one in my area that offers RN program [2 year program] that would on completion automatically make me eligible to enter this said cal state college, however i would be on a waiting list that could be as long as 2-3 years. Being 21 as i am, i don't want to be sitting around until im 25-26 waiting to get into this cal state. I've tried looking at other cal states in my area that offer a nursing program but it seems that their GPA requirements are also relatively high, like 3.25 etc.. even though their required GPA on a transfer app might indicate much less. Should i finish out strong my next semester or two at community college, pray to God it bumps me up into a 3.0 range and apply and hope for the best or is their a more logical and coherent way to approach this situation and for the better?

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Aionlasting]

*Crickets*

Guys i don't bite, i swear!!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Not trying to ignore you but I have no idea what to tell you because all the schools are so different.

[eholt19351]

u need to do your research on every cal state, just as i have done. i applied to many of the cal states with a 3.8 GPA and was only accepted to 1, and waitlisted at 2 others, and not accepted to the rest. get straight A's in your prereqs, thats the only advice i can give you. good luck.

[SaraFL]

If you can be accepted to a community college RN program, I would do that. If it's like mine, you get your RN with a 2 year degree, then you can go on to a university to get your Bachelors.

I know that California has its own problems with so many people wanting into nursing school, but not enough openings - is it possible for you to move to another state?

BTW, I know that you feel like at your age you should be further along and you don't want to be waiting around forever, but there are a LOT of us who are older than you and going through this same process.

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

Nursing school is competitive. Programs don't care if you were young and didn't care about your gen. education classes until it was too late. They see you as a GPA, and/or number on a wait list. I have a 3.8 and still waited a year for clinicals. Once you're in the program, if you have a bad term because of "insert whatever reason here" they don't care. You get the boot, and they let the next student get their shot.

I'd suggest getting on a wait list at a community college while you're seeking the quick route. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to get anything accomplished.

There's nothing wrong with graduating at 26, or 36. or 86. Education doesn't have an expiration date, and some things are worth the wait.

[MissBrittanyRN]

I graduated from NS with a lady in her 70's!

Like Mi Vida Loca said, admission requirements vary. Even if the requirement is only a 2.5 gpa and they have 50 slots, 200 applicants, and 50 of them have 3.8 gpa's, who do you think will get the pick? Some schools have a scale. You get x points for a gpa 3.5-4.0, x points 3.0-3.5, and so on. You get x points for having another certification in a health related field. X points for being a county resident (community college). So I would research specifics for the school you are looking into. If you are set on cal state, and you retook your worst classes, will that replace the grade you received the first time around?

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I was also interviewed for my program. So that can greatly influence your chances of getting in as well. A GPA can give you a rough idea as to the motivation and intelligence and work ethic of a person, but I think that more needs to be looked at. We had to write a personal statement and I truly think that I kicked butt at mine. And I interview well, so I think sealed the deal (it must have because I got my acceptance letter 2 weeks later).

Anyways, it doesn't hurt to try.

Really focus for the rest of this and next semester and pull that GPA up as much as you can. And dont limit yourself to certain schools. You might even want to consider applying out of state if this is something that you truly want to do.

[Aionlasting]

Hello Again,

First of all i want to thank you all for the replies and time put into reading my current situation.

I think i've received many great suggestions here. After some time yesterday just kind of throwing thoughts around in my head about this i decided i would do this;

I'm gonna take the last remaining classes i need to get into the cal state nursing program here in california which consist for me of;

Sociology 185, Bio 280, Bio 285, Micro Biology and Chem 140 [not sure what this is lol]

These 5 remaining classes are also the core classes that are absolutely required for the nursing program so God willing i can A'ce these or at least most of them which would bring my GPA up slightly maybe to a 3.0 or 3.1 and than with these being the main classes and having solid grades in them, that might up my chances some more of getting in. Really my grades that hurt me where in the GE classes because of my attitude towards school when i started at community. I know it's not an excuse but i hope that if my science GPA is high that they will at least see that i CAN accomplish what is required of me and that i DO WANT TO accomplish these things. I'm not trying to limit my options with colleges, their is obviously the UC system that has nursing programs, but thats even more difficult to get into than the cal state programs in cali. Worse comes to absolute worse i could look else where, another state perhaps, but i have no clue how i would make it on my own in another state seeing as i'd be unemployed and it's unlikely my parents would pay for the move and rent etc.. If anyone has any good resource sites on other states and the colleges there and the programs they offer that be great. I've tried googling things with no luck, maybe i'm not putting in the proper search.

If all the above doesn't cut it, ill go ahead and take the 2 year program at the other community college and get my RN license? I think thats what it is, and than get on that waiting list and pray to God I'm not waiting long. If the wait ends up being really long, like 2-3 years, i was thinking perhaps i could pursue a degree in physical therapy? Since i'm really fit, i do want to be in the medical field and i think i could enjoy this. However i don't know the requirements for this type of degree and i don't know if its more rigorous than that for nursing. Obviously if the standards for physical therapy are much higher GPA wise and class wise than i don't stand a chance but thats why its an idea atm

I'm hoping this is a solid plan and with a little help from above maybe ill get in! Here's to praying and hoping!

And dear SaraFL, thank you for putting things into perspective. It's nice to know i'm not the only one struggling with these issues. I felt so bummed and alone yesterday. I fought through it, and i'm gonna push forward, i'm not giving up but arrrr, it was a tough reality check to face.

Kindly,

Alex